Welcome to my home:
a place to rest,
a place to revive,
a place to pray.

In the continuation of sharing my children's book Christmas Morning, the little girl in the story delightfully opens up the fifth gift. (See previous posts for the proceeding gifts). She tears the pink and purple striped paper and opens a dainty box to find...

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a small bottle of perfume. This heart-shaped bottle is attached to a necklace so she can wear it everywhere she goes.

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As I have mentioned in my previous posts, each one of the gifts in Christmas Morning symbolizes a faith-based truth. In this case, the beaded necklace and bottled perfume represent the love of God in our hearts. When the little girl sprays the perfume, the whole room is filled with a beautiful aroma. The idea of this gift came from this verse in Scripture: Mary therefore took a pound of expensive ointment made from pure nard, and anointed the feet of Jesus and wiped his feet with her hair. The house was filled with the fragrance of the perfume. John 12:3

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Both the expensive ointment of Mary's and the little girl's perfume in the story, when poured out, result in a sweet smelling aroma. Everyone present is affected by the scent.

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Take a slow moment to think on this truth: the Spirit of God abides in our hearts. He is love. He is beautiful. He is powerful. He is alive. He is kind. He is good. He is joy. On and on. When we submit to His Spirit, all these things stir up in us... and then exude out of us! We "smell" good! It is by no accident that God calls this outpouring the "fruit" of the Spirit! Doesn't all fresh fruit smell wonderful?

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These verses emphasize God's love and its effect on us and others:

...And hope does not put us to shame, because God's love has been poured into our hearts through the Holy Spirit who has been given to us. Romans 5:5

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But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control; against such things there is no law. Galatians 5:22-23

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‍For we are the aroma of Christ to God among those who are being saved and among those who are perishing... 2 Corinthians 2:15

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‍Let my prayer be counted as incense before you... Psalm 141:2

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We can be filled up to all the fullness of God (Ephesians 3:19)... for the purpose of being poured out! How wonderful to know that when we do this, whether it's through praying, serving, or using our unique gifts and talents, we will give off a pleasing aroma, first to God, and then to others in our appointed realm of influence. Let's not hold back!

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Become the little girl in the story. Humbly, yet boldly, choose to fill whatever room you enter with the sweet smelling aroma of his Spirit.

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**Guess what? Christmas Morning is now available on Amazon! The official launch will be November 1st, but feel free to beat the Christmas rush and purchase it now if you'd like! And if you love it, I would kindly ask you to leave a review, as this will continue to help this treasure book of truth move forward.

link: bit.ly/3VzhyW1

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I pray that it will be a beautiful fragrance of God's love for all children and parents who open it.

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The little girl in Christmas Morning has another mystery to unwrap! What will it be?

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After dancing to the music box of joy (see previous post: https://www.respitefortheweary.com/post/the-making-of-christmas-morning-the-third-gift), the little girl sits down to open up... a beautiful crytstal goblet. And guess what? This goblet in not empty! Not only that, it is never empty! As a matter of fact, the goblet is full to overflowing! (By the way, Acacia, the illustrator of Christmas Morning, envisioned this picture in her head and then beautifully illustrated it for the book. I'm so thankful for her thoughts because the picture I originally had in my mind was so limited; I simply saw the little girl daintily sipping out of the goblet. But Acacia's picture is so much more accurate! It portrays abundance! This particular illustration ended up speaking into all the other pages of the book, giving Christmas Morning a "Narnia" feel.)

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The name of this gift is: the goblet of living water. And as you can surmise, it is symbolic for the water that Jesus gives us through his word and his Spirit.

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So often, we as believers choose to go through our days with parched souls. The well of water is always available. This water is pure and refreshing, but we opt out and instead live life on the run. His water revives the soul, but we decide that there's no time to linger in his love. Or maybe, we are drinking, but we choose culture's kool-aid instead; as a result, we are actually more depleted than revived. Until we understand that nothing will quench our thirst like his living water, our souls will remain parched.

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Hear Jesus' plea:‍

“Everyone who drinks of this water will be thirsty again, but whoever drinks of the water that I will give him will never be thirsty again. The water that I will give him will become in him a spring of water welling up to eternal life.” John 4:13-14

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Come, everyone who thirsts, come to the waters... Isaiah 55:1

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But his delight is in the law of the Lord, and on his law he meditates day and night. He is like a tree planted by streams of water that yields its fruit in its season, and its leaf does not wither. In all that he does, he prospers. Psalm 1:2-3

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As the deer pants for flowing streams, so pants my soul for you, O God. Psalm 42:1

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For I will pour water on the thirsty land, and streams on the dry ground; I will pour my Spirit upon your offspring, and my blessing on your descendants. Isaiah 44:3

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How will we answer his plea? Will we take a sip, then another, then another, until we are so filled up that we become an overflowing vessel of his hope and truth to all those around us? This is God's desire for you and me.

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Open up the gift of his living word. No need to live with a parched soul when each one of us has been invited by our Savior to drink in his abundance.

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In my soon-to-be-released children's book Christmas Morning, a little girl delightfully opens one gift after the other. Each gift takes her on a wonder-filled adventure which is portrayed through the whimsical illustrations. The third gift, wrapped in vibrant paper, is one of my favorites. The little girl reaches in and pulls out a..."happy little music box."

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When the little girl opens it, music like she has never heard before begins to play. It's so melodious and inviting, she can't help but rise up and dance all around her living room. She is filled to overflowing with JOY! This opened-up music box and the dancing little girl is meant to symbolize the joy that Jesus brings to all those who know him as Savior.

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All too often, we go about our days with our hearts closed up. We're all business. We're in a hurry. We're stressed. Pause for a moment to spend time with the Joy Giver? Not an option because there's just too much to do.

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But listen to what Jesus says in his word about joy:

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You make known to me the path of life; in your presence there is fullness of joy; at your right hand are pleasures forevermore. Psalm 16:11

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A joyful heart is good medicine... Proverbs 17:22

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These things I have spoken to you, that my joy may be in you, and that your joy may be full. John 15:11

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‍Shout for joy to the Lord, all the earth, burst into jubilant song with music. Psalm 98:4

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For you have been my help, and in the shadow of your wings I will sing for joy. Psalm 63:7

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I think one of God's greatest desires is to see his children worship him with a heart that's full to overflowing with joy. His joy is not merely a fun emotion. Nor is it based on circumstance; rather, it's rooted in knowing God and believing in his promises, no matter the circumstance. There is both depth and height to this fruit of the Spirit!

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What song can you listen to today that rhythmically proclaims God's truths? Do you need to be reminded of his goodness? his love? his presence? his power? Pick a song, turn it on, and rise up! This choice song may be the very medicine you need!

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Become the little girl in this story. Open up the vibrant music box. Get off the fast track, take some un-wasted time, and dance.

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...For the joy of the Lord is your strength. Nehemiah 8:10

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